Propelling system



June 19, 192s. 1,673,957

-V. THRANE PROPELLIN@ SYSTEM Filed March l5,l 1927 Patented J une 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES VICTOR THRAN, OF OSLO, NORWAY.

PROPELLING SYSTEM.

Application filed March 15, 1927. Serial No. 175,621, and in Norway March 19, 1926.

Propelling systems with rmovable wing surfaces have already been constructed,

wherein the wings or planes are attached to a rotary drum or! the like and are caused by mechanical. means to alter their position during` the rotation in such a manner that they are exerting a propelling action in a definite direction. Usually such devices will be comparatively complicated and therefore they have not obtained any practical utilization. The present invention has for its object to provide a .system which is characterized substantially by this that each wing surface consists of a flexible strap or ribbon stretched out between two carrying members performing an excentric movement relatively to one another in such a manner that the distance between the carrying members and thereby the size of the wing surface is subjected to periodic variations from a min imum to a maximum and back again to minimum.` a suitable mechanism during this opera-tion giving ofi' the .necessary and taking up the superiiuous strap length so as to maintain the strap at any time stretched to the necessary degree between the carrying members.

It has been found that a simple construction can be obtained by constituting all wings by a portion of a common endless strap so arranged that for each wing surface the other carrying members are automatically regulating the strap length.

The invention is illustrated in an executional form in the annexed drawing, wherein Figure 1 shows the system proper diagrammatically. Figure 2 is a lsection on the line Ilm-II of Figure 3 through the disc of the inner carrying members with adjacent parts. Figure 3 is a section on the plane IIIMIII of Figure 2. Figure 4 shows a detail.

1 is the driving shaft which is placed in a rapid rotation and carries a spider or rotor 2, the arms of which at their outer ends are provided with the outer carrying members 3. At some distance from the rotating shaft 1, but inside the circle described by the outer carrying members 3, there is arranged a pivot member 4 whereupon can rotate two discs 5 (only `one shown in the drawing). Between these two discs there are fastened as many inner carrying members 6 as there are outer ones, and just in the same manner as the outer members 3 are regularly distributed on the circle they describe7 the inouter carrying member 3, then inwards and` around the next inner carrying member 6, I

and so on all around the periphery. When now the outer carrying members 3 are placed in rotation, for instance in the direction of the arrow 8, they will describe a circle'about the shaft 1; During this motion each separate wing surface will ,be extended and shortened, because each of the `outer carrying members 3 are varying the distance from their corresponding inner carrying mem bers 6 during their excentric movement relatively to the latter and to the pivot 4. Each wing surface consequently will increase in length from a minimum (at right in Figure 1) gradually into a` maximum (at left in Figure 1) and then again decrease to mini mum, and simultaneously with this variation the wing surface considered as a whole will act like a wing surface variable in length and rotating about this pivot. If

suoli an apparatus isisupposed to be mounted i on an aeroplane in the position shown inthe drawing, it will, when driven in the direction of arrow 8,*bring about a buoyancy on the aeroplane dependent upon the size of the wing` surface and the speed of rotation. It

willialso be seen that for each4 separate wing `surface in its most effective propelling position (at left in Figure 1) the upper strap portion of the wing surface is travelling slowly inwards towards the pivot 4, whereas the lower strap portion is travelling slowly outwards towards the carrying member 3. This motion of the strap has a favourable influence as regards the propelling action.

The carrying members 3 and 6 can also be adjusted in a somewhat inclined position" relatively to the axis of rotation of shaft 1 whereby the wing` surfaces obtain an angle to this axis. In this casethe surfaces, besides producing a buoyancy as mentioned above, will also exert a propelling action in the direction of the axis of rotation, so that the apparatus may also operate partly as a fan. By suitable means the pivot 4 may be turned into different positions and fixedv therein relatively to shaft l, so that the propelling or impulse direction ot' the apparatus can thereby be varied. In the position shown the impulse direction is vertically downwards. If the direction oit'l rotation is reversed. the impulse direction will be vertically upwards. However. it pivot sl; is swung, for instance through 450 in the clockwise direction relatively to shaft l. the impulse direction will malte 150 `with the vert-ical line ete. Thereby it is possible during the operation to change the propelling or impulse direction of the apparatus.

A constructional form of such an adjusting device is indicated in Figure 2, wherein on a hollow part of the driving shaft 1 two arms 9 are pivotally mounted (whereof only one is seen in the drawing). These arms do not; take part of the rotation of shalt l and their hubs 10 can be adjusted by suit-able means (not shown). In adjusted position the hubs l0 are held stationary by n ans ol a solid sha'lt 1.5 projecting ontthrough the said hollow part of driving sha l't l. Pivot el and discs 5 with the inner c; rrying members 6 are journalled in the outer ends of arms 5l. Disc 5 made bowl-shaped and into its peripheral part ball pivots ll project. Said pivots are mounted on the end ofshaits l2 of rolls 6. The inward movement of ball pivots 1l is limited by an inner disc 13 but in peripheral direction they are free to move in the annular channel formed between disc 13 and the outer flange of bowldisc 5. However, between ball pivots l1 compression springs 14 are placed in the annular channel. In this manner ball pivots l1 will equalize the shocksy which rolls 6 would otherwise be subjected to owing to the varying tensions in the different portions of strap 7 during the rotation.

As indicated diagrannnat-ically in Figure 4C the outer carrving members 3 may also be eradially yieldingly jonrnalled in arms Q. 45

The carrying members may be so curved in the longitudinal direction (across to the distance between the said members) of the, wing'that the wing surface proper will take a correspondingly curved shape in this direction.

I claim as my inventionz l. i propelling system comprising a drivingshatt: a spider mounted on said shaftand having arms thereon. the outer end of each arm provided with a carrying member; a pivot member arranged in spaced relation from the shaft; a pair of spaced dises mounted on said pivot. member and having inner carrying members mounted between the discs; and an endless strap arranged aroundy the carrying members of the spider and the inner carrying members of the discs to form wings whereby rotation of the spider will cause the wings to vary periodically.

i2, "A propelling,r system comprising a driving shaft; a rotor mounted on said shaft and having carrying members thereon: a pivot member arranged in spaced relation `from the shaft; a pair of spaced discs mounted on said pivot member and having inner carrying members mounted between the discs; and an endless strap arranged around the carry ing members of the rotor and the inner carrying members ot the discs to it'orm wings whereby rotation ot the rotor will cause the wings to vary periodically.

3. A propelling system comprising a driving shaft; a rotor mounted on said shalt and having carrying menibers thereon: an inner carrying member for each carrying member of the rotor: and an endless strap arranged around the carrying members of the rotor and the inner carrying members to lorm wings whereby rotation oi' the rotor will cause the wings to vary periodically.

l. A propelling system comprising a driving shaft: e rotor mounted on .said sha'lt' and having carrying members thereon: an inner carrying member tor each carrying member oli the rotor; and a strap arranged around the carrying members of the rotor and the inner carrying members to l'orm wings whereby rotation of the rotor will cause the wings to vary periodically.

A propelling system comprising a drivingl shat't; a rotor mounted on said shalt and having carrying members thereon; an inner carrying member for each carrying member ot' the rotor; a strap arranged around the carr \ing members oi' the rotor and the inner carrying members to l'orm wings whereby rotation olf the rotor will cause the wings to vary perirulically: and springs associated with said carrying n|embers. i

(l. A propelling system comprising a driving shaft: a spider mounted on said shalt and having arms thereon, the outer end ol cach arm provided with a carrying member: a pivot member arranged in spaced relation from the shaft: a pair oi spaced discs mounted on said pivot member and having inner carrying members mounted between the discs; an endless strap arranged around the carrying members of the spider and the inner carrying members oll the discs to :torni wings wherelrv rotation oF the spider will cause the wings to vary periodically; and springs associated with said carrying members.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

VICTOR THRANE. 

